EU PARLIAMENT VISIT AIMS TO FOSTER EU-MSIA TIES

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- The European Parliament Delegation for
Relations' visit to Malaysia is aimed at enhancing European Union (EU)-Malaysia
ties, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Malaysia
Vincent Piket said Friday.

He said the delegation, headed by Chairman Hartmut Nassauer, is in Malaysia
on a two-day visit since yesterday to discuss bilateral, regional and
international issues.

"The background of the visit is that the EU wants to strengthen relations
with Southeast Asian countries. Expanding our relations with Malaysia is an
important part of this objective," he said in a statement.

Piket said Malaysia is EU's second largest trading partner in Asean and
EU has been the largest foreign investor in Malaysia.

"Our strong economic cooperation forms the basis for cooperation in many key
areas such as environment, fighting climate change, technological development,
education and agriculture, he said.

He said they had recently held dialogues with key decision makers and
influencers in the public and private sectors in the areas of food security,
standards and education.

"Through these visits from the European Parliament, we want to foster
closer political dialogues as it is imperative to make the most of the relations
the EU has with Malaysia," he added.

Earlier, Nassauer and his delegation met Lower House of Parliament speaker
Pandikar Amin Mulia and Senate president Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh at
Parliament House.

They also called on Minister in the Prime Minister's Department
Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz who is also the minister in charge of parliamentary
affairs.

The delegation also met Institute of Strategic and International Studies
(ISIS) director-general Prof Dr Mahani Zainal Abidin to provide the platform for
EU-Malaysia dialogues on international cooperation.

-- BERNAMA